Police Boss Calls For Assistance of Retired Officers

Nkawkaw,(Eastern Region) 19 Oct. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Peter Nanfuri, has called on retired police officers to use their personal contacts and rich experience to reshape negative public attitudes and perceptions about the service. Mr Nanfuri said even though his administration has launched a number of image-building activities and programmes to improve the relationship between the civil society and the police, support from retired servicemen, holding themselves out as public relations officers, will contribute immensely towards the realisation of the set goals. "...We think we can count on those of you who were once with us as special allies...Once a policeman, always a policeman," the IGP said in a speech to mark the inauguration of the Kwahu district branch of the Ghana Ex-Police Officers Association (GEXPOA) at Nkawkaw at the weekend. He enumerated various policies being pursued to give the police a new sense of direction as well as boost confidence and morale of the personnel. These include a nationwide 6-week refresher courses for chief inspectors, who the IGP said "occupy a unique position as station officers". He said his administration has re-introduced drill, which he described as the bed-rock of discipline. Mr Nanfuri said with logistic support from the government, his outfit has registered a steady progress in its operations, adding that the "lawlessness and indiscipline that had hitherto characterised our national life in the streets, cities and towns." "The police stood up to the challenge, and I am very happy to say the results are there for everybody to see. Some measure of sanity has been restored to vehicular traffic in our cities and the menace of hawkers has also been reduced to tolerable levels." Mr Nanfuri gave assurance of his administration's preparedness to cooperate with the GEXPOA and pledged to give it whatever assistance that would make it a reliable ally in the fight against crime. He, however, urged the ex-servicemen to iron out their differences in order to forge ahead in unity. GEXPOA president, Mr Ben Kuma, said the association is in close contact with its counterparts in Britain and Ireland, among others, for the promotion of peace and understanding between nations through the exchange of literature as well as symposiums. Mr Kuma announced the holding of an international forum of ex-police officers' associations in Ghana soon. He appealed to the government to provide adequate logistics to personnel to enhance their performance, saying without adequate tools, the policemen become exposed to hazards and temptations.